Belgium 22 Apr 2026 Class 1.UWT – 1 day – UCI WorldTour
Website www.letour.fr
La Flèche Wallonne One Day Race
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
The 2026 La Flèche Wallonne took place on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. The 19-year-old French sensation Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) made history by becoming the youngest winner in the race’s 90-year history, clinching victory with a powerful surge on the legendary Mur de Huy.
Despite suffering a mid-race crash that left him with scratches on his elbow and thigh, Seixas launched his decisive attack with roughly 200 meters to go, distancing himself from the field to win by three seconds.
Top 10 Results (Men’s Elite)
| # | Rider | Team | Time / Gap |
| 1 | Paul Seixas | Decathlon CMA CGM Team | 4:35:29 |
| 2 | Mauro Schmid | Team Jayco AlUla | + 0:03 |
| 3 | Ben Tulett | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 0:03 |
| 4 | Benoît Cosnefroy | UAE Team Emirates – XRG | + 0:03 |
| 5 | Mattias Skjelmose | Lidl-Trek | + 0:08 |
| 6 | Alex Baudin | EF Education – EasyPost | + 0:08 |
| 7 | Ion Izagirre | Cofidis | + 0:10 |
| 8 | Lenny Martinez | Bahrain – Victorious | + 0:10 |
| 9 | Romain Grégoire | Groupama – FDJ United | + 0:10 |
| 10 | Andreas Kron | Uno-X Mobility | + 0:10 |
| 69 | Bob Jungels | INEOS Grenadiers | + 2:01 |
| – | Kevin Geniets | Groupama – FDJ United | DNF |
Race Highlights
- Historic Victory: Seixas broke the age record previously held by Philémon De Meersman (1936), winning at just 19 years old.
- The Final Climb: The podium was decided in the final meters of the Mur de Huy (1.3 km at 10%). While Ben Tulett pushed early on the steepest ramps, he faded to third as Mauro Schmid snatched second place in the final sprint.
- Strategic Absence: With favorites like Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel skipping the race to focus on Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the field was wide open, allowing the younger generation to dominate the podium.
The History of La Flèche Wallonne
Known for its brutal finish and tactical drama, La Flèche Wallonne (The Walloon Arrow) is one of the most prestigious one-day classics in professional cycling. It serves as the middle leg of the Ardennes Classics, sandwiched between the Amstel Gold Race and Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
Origins and Early Years
The race was created in 1936 by the newspaper Les Sports to boost its circulation. While its “big sister,” Liège–Bastogne–Liège, was already established as an endurance test, La Flèche Wallonne was designed to be a shorter, faster “arrow” cutting through the Walloon region of Belgium.
- First Winner: Philippe Demeersman (Belgium).
- Original Route: The race originally ran from Tournai to Liège. Over the decades, the start and finish locations shifted frequently, visiting cities like Mons, Charleroi, Verviers, and Huy.
The Evolution of the Finish
The identity of the race changed forever in 1985. Seeking a more spectacular finale, organizers moved the finish line to the top of the Mur de Huy (the Wall of Huy).
Before this change, the race was often won by long-range attackers or strong sprinters who could handle rolling hills. Once the Mur became the finish, the race evolved into a specialized “puncher’s” classic, favoring riders with an explosive power-to-weight ratio.
The Mur de Huy: The Defining Feature
The Mur de Huy is a legendary climb that defines the modern era of the race. The peloton typically climbs it multiple times, but the final ascent is where the race is almost always decided.
| Statistic | Detail |
| Length | 1.3 km |
| Average Gradient | ~9.6% |
| Maximum Gradient | 26% (on the “S” bend) |
| Tactics | Riders often wait until the final 200 meters to launch their peak acceleration. |
Legends of the “Arrow”
A few riders have mastered the unique timing required to win on the Mur de Huy.
- Alejandro Valverde: The undisputed king of the race. The Spaniard holds the record with 5 victories (2006, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017).
- Multiple Winners: Several riders have won the race three times, including cycling icons like Eddy Merckx, Marcel Kint, Moreno Argentin, and Davide Rebellin.
- Julian Alaphilippe: The Frenchman became a modern specialist, winning three times (2018, 2019, 2021) and ending Valverde’s dominance.
Inclusion in the WorldTour
As professional cycling structured its top-tier calendar, La Flèche Wallonne was a natural fit.
- UCI ProTour: Joined the elite circuit upon its inception in 2005.
- UCI WorldTour (1.UWT): It is currently categorized as a 1.UWT event, meaning it is a top-level, one-day WorldTour race. This status ensures that all 18 UCI WorldTeams are required to participate, maintaining the highest possible level of competition.
The Women’s Race (La Flèche Wallonne Féminine)
Since 1998, a women’s edition has been held on the same day as the men’s race. It has become one of the most important races on the UCI Women’s WorldTour.
- Anna van der Breggen holds an incredible record here, winning the race seven consecutive times from 2015 to 2021, an achievement unmatched in the history of the sport.
Fun Fact: Because the finish is so steep and tactical, the peloton often arrives at the base of the Mur de Huy largely intact. This has led to the race being described as “the longest 1,000-meter race in the world,” as the previous 190+ kilometers are often a tense preamble to the final three minutes of climbing.
